The Most Precious Gift

An inbetweener to "The Blessing". Hippolyta's POV of the birth of her granddaughter, Astrea.

Then: Themyscira

"Oh Gods!" Diana cried out in pain.

"Shh..shh…it's alright, Diana. It will be over soon and you won't feel a thing," Hippolyta tried to soothe her daughter rubbing her back.

"Mother…it hurts…" Diana whimpered as a contraction surged through her and she grabbed Hippolyta's hand.

Hippolyta held back her own tears. She'd been taken care of Diana along with Kal and other Amazons through out her third trimester. The pregnancy wasn't difficult but they still remained cautious given the circumstances of the child's parents being an Amazonian Demi-Goddess and Kryptonian Sun God.

Diana has felt pain, but not like this. This was a pain that only a woman would know of and endure. But at the same time, in a way, it was glorious and beautiful. The way of bringing another life into the world.

"I'm right here, Diana. Just breathe through it," Hippolyta soothed. She held onto Diana's hand until the contraction started to wind down.

"Queen Hippolyta, where is the Kryptonian?" Odessa, one of the Amazon care takers asked.

"He will be here soon."

Hippolyta smiled to herself. She couldn't believe she was actually so comfortable with a man such as he stepping foot on the island whenever he pleased. But Kal-El was no ordinary mortal man. He was a man from behind the stars with the power to rival Zeus yet so respectful, honorable, and humbled. Of course, when Hippolyta first met him, she was skeptical. But he had proven his worthiness as a trusted ally and the man who captured her daughter's heart.

She had always wanted to protect her daughter. Centuries of longing for a child of her own, though believing she was barren. Despite Diana's conception being of an affair with the King of the Gods, Zeus, she was her miracle. Hippolyta wanted Diana to stay close and never leave the island. But Diana was her daughter after all, stubborn, and Diana had her own path to follow even if Hippolyta did not at first agree with it. It pained her to let go of her daughter for her to venture out to man's world but she prayed and had faith, her daughter would be safe and protected.

She expected the possibility Diana would have experiences of romance but she had not expected her to completely fall in love. Diana was solely focused on learning and exploring the outside world and teaching the ways of the Amazons.

Though with Kal-El, over the years, she had seen the interactions between him and Diana. How close they became and there was no denying the feelings they had for one another. The way they looked at each other. The way he would show just how much loved, adored, and cared for Diana. They way they would talk about one another drifting into their own world of bliss.

Now he was her son in law. The son she never knew she wanted. He showed her the utmost respect and she trusted him more than any other man of the outside world she'd ever known.

There was suddenly a gust of wind.

"Diana," Kal smiled caressing her cheek.

"Beloved…" she smiled back.

Kal took her hand and kissed the back of it.

"Kal-El, a moment?" Hippolyta asked.

"Of course."

Kal and Hippolyta walked out of the room.

"Is there anything wrong with Diana or the baby? I can hear both their heartbeats are really strong. Though, Diana's blood pressure is up a little and just really anxious and nervous and-"

"Kal-El," Hippolyta laughed. "Calm down. I just wanted a moment to tell you how proud I am. You've made my daughter so happy."

"I love Diana so much, Hippolyta. This is so surreal. I mean I um…" he laughed nervously and looked down at his hands. "I can't stop shaking being so nervous and anxious myself. I want you to know that I will do my damndest to continue to be the husband and now father I need to be. I made I promise to you that I intend to keep for eternity."

Hippolyta smiled and embraced him. "I love you, my son. Thank you for all that you have done for my daughter."

Kal was shocked and froze for a quick second. But then he relaxed and embraced her back.

"Hippolyta…" He smiled at her once pulling away. "You are the reason Diana is in my life. I know that you were skeptical of me and I had to prove myself to be trustworthy and worthy of Diana. I'll do it all over again in a heartbeat if I had to. You've been so supportive, taught me so much and welcomed me to the island. I'm grateful for all of this everyday. So I want to thank you, Ma."

Hippolyta was chocked up on the verge of tears yet again.

"Oh, Gods!" Diana cried as a contraction hit.

"We better get back in there. We don't want to miss the moment your child and my grandchild comes into the world."

Kal nodded and hearing Diana scream, he rushed to her side. He grabbed her hand and placed his other on her back, rubbing small circles.

"I'm here, Di," he whispered before kissing her head.

"Tell me, now," Diana grunted, taking deep breaths.

"Tell me why… you… want a… girl…" she spoke slowly as she inhaled and exhaled. "You've made it pretty… obvious…Why?"

Hippolyta was curious of that as well. All throughout the pregnancy, Kal had referred to the child, his daughter.

"My birth mother, Lara...I still remember her last words, her voice. Seeing her face for the first and last time." he started. "I read in my father's journal that she was the only woman of Krypton to give birth naturally after so many years. She wanted to make a difference on Krypton. She was strong, one hell of a fighter."

Diana smiled at him weakly.

"Martha...Ma...she couldn't have a child of her own but she took me in and it didn't matter where I came from or that I had the abilities I have. Without hesitation, she raised me as her son, as her child and it was as if I was naturally hers." He paused for a moment. "Then you, Diana."

"Me?"

"It's like you are the embodiment of them. Your sacrifices, your support, your acceptance and the love you have given me just as my mothers did is why I want a daughter. Even Hippolyta has accepted me, given me the chance and trust with you." Kal glanced over to Hippolyta with a smile and she smiled back. "I want to honor the women in my life and heart. To have my little girl be the embodiment of all of you."

Tears ran down Diana's face and she gently squeezed his hand. "Kal, my love, that is the most beautiful sentiment."

"I love you," Kal said sincerely.

"I love you… oh…" Diana groaned as another contraction arrived. "They are getting worse," she moaned, taking deep breaths.

"Almost there," he replied with an encouraging smile and talked her through the next contraction.

"I need to push," she whined. "I really need to push."

"Not yet, Diana," Hessia said, patting her leg soothingly.

"This baby wants to be out and I am in full agreement," she hissed, her eyes flashing with anger.

Kal tried really, really hard, but a low chuckle still escaped.

"Not a laughing matter..."

"I'm sorry, but you have no idea how cute you look when you're mad." He kissed her forehead.

"Ok...Diana...ready to push..."

She pushed and screamed.

Kal held his wife's hand. "Once more...breathe...there!"

Hippolyta observed in awe. She could see the pain expression Kal had while Diana was squeezing his hand as hard as she could. Though he kept his composure only concentrating to soothe and encourage Diana.

The next 20 or 30 minutes were a complete blur. Diana fell back onto the bed, exhausted. Hessia smiled and held the tiny crying infant.

"Congratulations Diana, Kal, you have a beautiful, healthy baby girl."

Kal looked at Diana and they both started to cry.

Hessia placed the baby girl into Odessa's arms for her and Delilah to clean her and swaddle her up in a blanket.

"Queen Hippolyta," Odessa and Delilah said in unison as they slightly bowed and gently placed her granddaughter in her arms.

Hippolyta took her tenderly in her arms and smiled down at her little granddaughter. That moment, the tears she held back for so long came running down her cheeks uncontrollably. Her granddaughter was absolutely beautiful; she had a little scrunched up face and a tiny fist popping out of the blanket bundle.

"May the Gods always watch over you, little one."

She kissed the top of her head softly and smiled bringing her back to Diana and placed her on Diana's chest. The second she was in her mother's arms, she quieted.

"She's beautiful," Hippolyta said. "My granddaughter."

It suddenly dawned on Hippolyta that she didn't know her granddaughter's name yet.

"Dears, what is her name?" she asked.

Diana and Kal looked at each other and smiled.

"Astrea," they smiled in unison.

"Astrea Kyra Kent," Diana cooed softly to their perfect little girl.

"Hello, Ma."

Diana looked up at Kal with a smile, "Hello, Pa."

"Astrea," said Hippolyta, tearing up again. "A child of the stars." Hippolyta leaned down and kissed Diana's cheek. "Absolutely perfect. A precious gift. I'm so happy for you two."

"Thank you, Mother."

Now: One week later…

Diana woke up to Astrea crying. She was laying in the middle of the bed with her and Kal.

She yawned. "There…there….little Love."

Diana sat up and picked up Astrea, cradling her.

"Diana?" Kal woke up.

"It's okay, Darling, it's time for her feeding."

Kal sat up as well.

As Astrea latched onto Diana, Diana couldn't help but laugh.

"She has quite an appetite."

"A week has passed and I'm just still in awe, Di. Our baby girl is here." Kal leaned over and kissed Diana and Astrea's foreheads gently.

"I know! Kal, she's just so adorable! Our baby…our combined love. I'm so proud of us."

"Me too, Di. Me too. You have this incredibly beautiful glow. You've always had this glow but it's a little different."

"It's because I'm a wife and mother now. Two desires I had long since buried believing it would never be possible. But I've had my best friend and the love of my life by my side all these years."

"We've accomplished so much together. It's been quite a journey."

"And we still have much more ahead now."

"I don't think we will be able to leave the island when time," Kal joked. "Your mother and sister are already attached to little princess."

Diana laughed. "I know. It's been a long while since having a child here. Astrea is the royal heir as well." Diana paused for a moment. "Oh…hmm…"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Darling. But I have to go see, Mother."

"Right now?"

"Yes. It's just a feeling." Diana eased out of bed with Astrea. "Astrea will be coming with me. I don't know how long our talk will be. So preparing for her feeding in another hour or so and changing."

"Ok, hold on, let me help."

Kal took Astrea to swaddle her in her blanket while Diana got dressed. He then prepared a small bag for her to take.

Diana smiled. "Thank you, Love."

"Are you sure everything is okay, Di?"

"Yes," she smiled reassuringly.

Diana hugged him then cupped his face with both hands. She reached up and kissed his passionately. Kal tightened his grip around her waist, deepening their kiss. Diana moaned and giggled breaking their kiss and pressed her forehead against his.

"I love you, Kal-El."

"I love you, too, Diana."

Diana picked up Astrea. "Come, little Love. We are going to see grandmother." She kissed Kal once more. "Darling, rest. We will be fine."

"Alright, Di. I'll see you both in the morning."

Diana kissed his cheek and left out of her room.

Diana hummed as she continued walking down the halls to the Queen's chambers.

"Princess? Everything alright?" Zahra, a guard asked bowing.

"Yes," Diana smiled reassuringly. "Just taking a walk with Astrea to Mother's chambers."

Zahra nodded and bowed again.

Astrea yawned and just stared up at her mother. Diana looked down and smiled.

"Hey, my baby!"

Astrea wiggled happily in Diana's arms.

Diana laughed. "Let's see if Grandmother is up." She knocked on her door. "Mother?"

Hippolyta quickly opened the door. "Diana, what's wrong? Are you and Astrea okay? Where is Kal-El?"

"Everything is fine. I had a feeling you would still be up and had to come see you and for you to have some time with your granddaughter."

"Oh, Diana, you didn't have to. I could've waited til morning."

"Yes and you will have the morning as well but now is a time, too, especially with something being on your mind."

Hippolyta smiled. "You are truly my daughter. Come in, my Dears."

Diana walked in. "I swear between you and Kal-El, I can barely get out of bed. Both of you are so over protective," she laughed.

"Diana, you just had a precious baby a week ago. Your body still needs rests and healing."

"I know, Mother. I thank you both for being so caring. But I don't need you two to tire yourselves out. That's why I told Kal to get rest. He should be sleeping now."

Diana and Hippolyta sat down on the edge of the bed.

"He has been going back and forth from here to man's world to work."

"Yes and I didn't want him missing work especially from the lab."

Diana laid Astrea down to unwrap the blanket. Her tiny hands popped out in the air and she stretched.

"She already reminds me so much of you as a baby," Hippolyta laughed softly picked Astrea up and cradled her. "Hello, my little star!"

Astrea kicked her feet happily recognizing her grandmother's voice.

"She's such a happy little one."

"She is! And I understand that feeling, Mother, of wanting her close…to never let go."

Hippolyta heart fluttered. "Diana, I…" she sighed and looked into her daughters eyes. "Diana, you know of my pain and sorrows. Centuries of believing I was barren until…Zeus. I know that my affair with him caused an upheaval but I will not have any regrets because I have my precious daughter. My only daughter. My miracle and gift. That is why I was so protective of you. For the first time, I had something that I could truly be proud of. Diana, I am so proud of you. I had my reservations and doubts of man's world but you chose your own path and prevailed. You fell in love and married an honest man that is in love with only you, loyal and holds the utmost respect. Watching the both of you, I've realized I've gone about things all wrong but I'd rather it be me to learn from and to see that my daughter has chosen right from the very beginning."

"Mother, we all stumble but we do our best. Despite everything that you have gone through, you've remained strong as not only Queen of the Amazons, a warrior, but as my mother, Kal's mother-in-law and now Astrea's grandmother. You have been the best and perfect mother for me, taught me so many things and I can't wait for Astrea to experience so many precious moments with you."

Hippolyta looked down with a joyous smile and tears in her eyes. She gently caressed Astrea cheek with her finger. Astrea smiled staring at her mother and grandmother. She reached up and grabbed hold of Hippolyta's finger.

"I've never cried this much but they are not tears of sadness. They are all of such joy and happiness. This is the most precious gift a mother could ask for. Astrea was born out of true honest pure love that radiates through all of you." Hippolyta kissed Astrea's forehead and held her close. "I love you, my little star." She leaned over and kissed Diana's forehead. "I love you, dear daughter."

Tears streamed down Diana's face. Diana laid her head on Hippolyta's shoulder and placed her hand gently over Hippolyta's and Astrea's.

Three generations.

"I love you, too, Mother and I love you, Astrea, my precious darling little Love."

Happy Mother's Day!